(Read interview on the RGM platform here)
Tell us bit about where you are from and how you got into music?
I’ve been writing songs since I was a teenager in Denmark in the 80’s. Growing up, I was immersed in a melting pot of Danish folk music, soul, jazz and blues music from the US. “British Invasion” music also made its mark, as did Irish, Canadian, South African, Australian, and Scandinavian singers and songwriters.
Emancipatory songs, from Guthrie, to Seeger, and from Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald to Bill Withers and Muddy Waters (to name a few) helped shape my voice and beginning songwriting from when I was around 15. Then others added their touch to the mix. Today my voice is my own. But it is also something shaped by all of the above – an interconnected mix of nationalities, styles, genres, and songs
What’s the live music scene like in (Denmark) right now?
It is characterized by being a small country, and also, historically, pop territory. However, there is a growing folk-country perhaps even Americana-awareness with a few festivals that are known for this, notably “Tønder Festival” and “Nashville Nights”. The live scene is relatively vibrant but driven by big arena like set-ups, which is putting pressure on ticket sales in smaller venues. Luckily, we can play anywhere, so it is not going to hurt us so much – I rather think that time is working in our favor.
Anyone we should be looking out for (bar you, of course)?
Anything that Tina Dickow puts out. Also, Nanna Larsen & Ivan Pedersen, Anna Hansen, Cecilie Glenthøj, to name a few that sing in English here. I’ve had the pleasure of working with them on Samsoe Song Camp. And Michael Blicher’s project Aegteskab is interesting for many reasons, and Michael and I co-wrote ”High Tide” the first track on the new album.
What are your ambitions for the band?
The New Songrise builds on and records from the principle “Honest – Uncompromising – Timeless”. Songs must be written and played from an honest, uncompromising, place, and the resulting recordings must carry a timeless quality. Moreover, we draw on my decades as a songwriter, a life-long practice which earned me a PhD in songwriting (2023).
The songs of the singers, songwriters and musicians that shaped me as a singer were songs of resistance, redemption, love, and the pursuit of some level of happiness in the midst of often bleak prospects. In the band, we believe with songwriter and author Mary Gauthier that songs have the power to change the world “One song, one heart, one mind, one person at a time” – she wrote about this in her wonderful book “Saved By A Song”.
The ”logic” is that if listeners can feel your pain, your doubts, your happiness, your elation through the music, it means they can feel you. And this can lead to reflection on their own lives. So, our ambition is to keep recording and playing live – we would like to play more in Europe generally and it would be great to the band on the road elsewhere also – we are interested in playing where people want to hear us.
What’s your favorite social media platform to use and why?
At the moment we are trying to decide if we should go with something else in the future, but until then we are using METAs Instagram and Facebook, and we have an ambition to start using WhatsApp as well. We use these platforms because we find that these are what are audiences use.
We believe its essential to have a presence on Facebook, Instagram and X to introduce yourself to all the different types of audiences out there, what’s your thoughts on that?
Agreed, but we should also be aware that artists have no control what so ever of the algorithms, and these platforms are not what they were ten years ago. It is much, much harder to get any kind or organic reach. At the moment they seem designed for monetization rather than anything else.
What’s your view on the Music industry today?
I think there are many industries within the music industry, and some are doing well while others are struggling. I am very happy that we write and produce songs that can work anywhere, from very minimalist voice-guitar productions to bigger things, because it means that we have great maneuverability and can adapt very well. At the same time, the major vs indie divide is as formidable as ever, and the question is what the future will be like for independent music production – perhaps it is bright because audiences will want, need and request authenticity. And that is exactly what we can deliver.
Whats your thoughts on AI generated music?
I have no need for Ai to produce any of the music that I make. I’ve trained 40 years for this, and there is no way to make it more professional or better using Ai. Also, I would miss the work process which is half the joy. I hope that people will still see the need to become skilled craftsmen and -women and to strive to do good work regardless of any technical help (or technically helped competition).
Whats the biggest thing you have learned recently as you progress with your music?
Get away from the computer, play the music live whichever way is possible.
What’s currently in your ears and on rotation at the moment?
I’ve just been on a week-long songwriting camp on an island in Denmark the ”Samsoe Song Camp 2026”, working with other songwriters from Denmark, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, the United States, so I’m mostly listening to brandnew songs written in teams involving Cecilie Glenthøj, Emma Lihle, Anna Hansen, Ivan Pedersen, Jens Marni, Anja Fønss, Peter Frissnæs, Mike Stewart, Søren Skov, Peter Busborg, Søren Jacobsen and others.
I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
Clouds & Silver Linings is a collection of twelve songs that are both deeply personal but, I hope, universally relatable. Rooted in folk, country and Americana, the album combines storytelling with some fairly “no nonsense” songwriting. Probably appealing to listeners who appreciate a commitment to songwriting as craft and emotional honesty, (if you are on board with artists such as Chris Stapleton, Mary Gauthier or Willie Nelson this should rock your boat, while we also have a solid blues strand running through a good deal of the material).
The album explorares life’s contrasts—love and loss, hope and uncertainty, courage and vulnerability—as well as a concern for how we treat each other and the world we share. The twelve tracks were selected from both newly written songs and older material, representing where I stand today as a songwriter and artist, but also there is a kind of chronicling of lived experience over time.
What was the recording process like?
It was a very smooth process. There is just something about getting good players in the studio and recording tracks the way that the band sounds together on that day. The album features Dennis Ahlgren (bass, guitars, keyboards and production), Peter Dombernowsky (drums and percussion), Jan Thomsen (guitars), Jeppe Juul Jepsen (keyboards), together with additional guest musicians. The backing vocals are fx provided by my daughter Minna, alongside acclaimed songwriter colleagues Ivan Pedersen, Nanna Larsen, Jimmi Guldbæk, Linda Andrews and Søren Skov. So, we have been in very good company all along, and the album felt great to make, just like I think we’re all proud when we listen back to it now, being able to also appreciate the great mastering job done by Skonrokk Mastering.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
Actually, we are all really happy with the record. We have also been very fortunate regarding its reception so far, getting some rather decent reviews. And, as importantly, colleagues have called me up and written messages in which they have said some very supportive things, while the live reception has been really good, too. All in all, I feel that we’re in a very good place, happy with where we are moving towards. You see, Clouds & Silver Linings marks the beginning of a much larger musical journey. Two follow-up albums are already in production, with additional projects in pre-production. Drawing inspiration from real-life experiences, our plan is to continue to build a catalogue of timeless songs rooted in honesty, craftsmanship and hope for a better tomorrow.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
The songs on Clouds & Silver Linings are my reactions to life’s ups and downs. I believe we’ve managed to weave a thread of hope through the entire album. Despite everything happening in the world, there is still reason to be hopeful. I believe art can inspire positive change by reminding us of our shared vulnerability and the beauty of simply being alive. Ask someone how they’re doing today and take the time to have a real conversation. We have to build community and take care of each other, so we can support each other in carrying a torch into the unknown future.
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